Ashton Hall, a prominent fitness creator with 7.2 million TikTok followers and 19 million on Instagram, has famously featured Saratoga Water in his viral workout videos without a formal brand partnership. Hall’s journey began in 2020 while working at LA Fitness, where his top sales performance inspired him to build his own fitness brand. When the pandemic closed gyms, he transitioned to posting daily at-home workout videos, rapidly growing his social media presence from zero to 70,000 followers within a month.
Despite Saratoga Water’s significant visibility in Hall’s content, which reportedly boosted the brand’s Google searches by 1,400%, Hall has intentionally declined any official endorsement deals with the company. He values ownership and long-term wealth creation over short-term cash gains. During a conversation on Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcast, Hall emphasized his focus on investing in ventures where he can maintain equity and work toward substantial exit strategies rather than just making money from immediate deals.
Hall’s investment portfolio already includes stakes in an energy drink company and Price.com, reflecting his commitment to building equity and passive income streams. While he appreciates the exposure Saratoga Water has offered him and describes it as a “biggest blessing” and a “victory story,” his decision to forgo a formal partnership aligns with his broader business philosophy. He prioritizes opportunities that allow him to sleep and keep making money, underscoring his strategic approach to brand collaborations.
By choosing ownership over traditional influencer brand deals, Ashton Hall is redefining how fitness creators leverage their online fame into sustainable business ventures. His approach highlights a shift in the creator economy towards greater control, equity stakes, and long-term value. Hall’s story serves as an inspiring example for other content creators aiming to turn virality into lasting financial success through ownership and strategic investments.
Start the discussion with a take, question, or market read.